Vertical Weight Rack

ABSTRACT

A weight rack having an elongated base is provided. The base may include a front side and a rear side. The base may include a height that is substantially greater than a width. Protruding from the front side of the base includes a plurality of U-shaped cradles. The U-shaped cradles may be oriented along the height of the elongated base. Each of the U-shaped cradles may be formed to receive and secure a dumbbell.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 17/304,016 for a “Vertical Weight Rack,” filed Jun. 12, 2021, and currently co-pending, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/308,381 filed Jun. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,033,771, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/836,554, filed Jun. 18, 2013. The aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weight rack and, more particularly, to a vertical weight rack that attaches to a surface.

Generally, a standard gymnasium, fitness studios and country clubs with gyms provides dumbbells for their patrons to use for weight lifting. Dumbbells require racks to keep the different weights organized and to prevent injury due to tripping over dumbbells on the floor. Currently, floor racks are utilized to store dumbbells. However, floor racks take up a lot of space. For example, the floor racks may take up between 10 to 30 square feet of usable floor space. Fitness studios, country clubs and gyms need as much usable space for their patrons as possible. By removing standard dumbbell racks, the facility may gain valuable floor space that it otherwise would not have.

As can be seen, there is a need for a weight rack that saves space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a weight rack comprises: an elongated base comprising a front side and a rear side, wherein the elongated base comprises a height substantially greater than a width; and a plurality of U-shaped cradles protruding from the front side of the elongated base, wherein the plurality of U-shaped cradles are oriented along the height of the elongated base, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped cradles is formed to receive and secure a dumbbell.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the in-use present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detail section view of the present invention along line 3-3 in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present

invention;

FIG. 8 is a section detail view of an alternate embodiment of the present

invention along line 8-8 in FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention may include a wall mounted storage system for dumbbells. The present invention may include a Li-channel that may be made of a metal such as steel or aluminum. The U-shaped channel may cradle the dumbbells handle or head. The present invention provides the storage of dumbbells utilizing a wall instead of a traditional dumbbell rack which takes up valuable space. The present invention takes up little floor space by mounting the racks on the wall, which allows for more efficiency and comfort for the patrons.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 12 , the present invention includes a weight rack 10 having an elongated base 11. The base 11 may include a front side and a rear side. The base 11 may include a height (h) that is substantially greater than width (w). Protruding from the front side of the base 11 includes a plurality of U-shaped cradles 32. The U-shaped cradles 32 may be oriented along the height of the elongated base 11. Each of the U-shaped cradles 32 may be formed to receive and secure a dumbbell 20.

In certain embodiments, the rear side of the elongated base 11 may be substantially flat and may be mounted directly to a wall 28 by a connector. In such embodiments, the elongated base 11 may include a plurality of slots 14 running through the front side and the rear side. The connector may include a plurality of bolts 16 that run through the slots 14 and into the wall 28 and stud 30. Washers 26 may be used to help secure the elongated base 11 to the wall 28.

The weight rack 10 of the present invention may further be mounted to a support mount 34 by the bolts 16. The support mount 34 may include an aluminum extruded support mount 34. The support mount 34 may be mounted to plywood 38, which is attached to a rubber material 36, which may be attached to a metal stud 40. The support mount 34 may be attached to the plywood 38 by a bracket 44 and screw fasteners 42.

The present invention may further include a first side 15 and a second side 17 protruding from the front side of the base 11. A plurality of aligning channels 12 are formed on the first side and the second side forming the plurality of U-shaped cradles 32. The plurality of U-shaped cradles 32 may align vertically with one another along the height of the elongated base 11.

In certain embodiments, the first side 15 and the second side 17 include a top portion and a bottom portion. As illustrated in the FIGS. 4 through 6 , the first side 15 and the second side 17 may have a greater length at the bottom portion than at the top portion. Further, a distance between the first side 15 and the second side 17 may be greater at the bottom portion than the top portion. The increased dimensions of the bottom portion may accommodate for larger sized and weighted dumbbells 20.

The weight rack 10 of the present invention may be bolted to the ground surface. In such embodiments, a first flange 22 may extend from the first side 15 of the bottom portion, and a second flange 22 may extend from the second side 17 of the bottom portion. The first and second flange 22 may each include a slot 24. A bolt 16 may be inserted into the slot and bolted to the ground, thereby securing the weight rack 10 to the surface.

There may be multiple configurations of the present invention. For example, there may be a weight rack 10 that holds three pairs of dumbbells 20 that have head diameters of six inches or less. There may also be a weight rack 10 that holds four pairs of dumbbells 20 with head diameters of under four inches. The space between the handle cradles 20 may determine the amount and type of dumbbell that may be stored.

In certain embodiments, the racks 10 may be manufactured out of sheet aluminum or steel. The flat design may be laser cut, or water-jet cut, then bent into shape to form the U shape. Plastic, rubber or foam guards may be placed within the channels 12 to protect the U-shaped cradles 32.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weight rack, comprising: an elongated base, comprising: a front side having a plurality of U-shaped cradles protruding therefrom, a substantially flat rear side, a top, and a bottom, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped cradles is configured such that a dumbbell may be securely placed into it.
 2. The weight rack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of U-shaped cradles is ordered from smallest at a position proximate the top of the elongated base to largest at a position proximate the bottom of the elongated base.
 3. The weight rack of claim 1, further comprising protective guards placed within channels defined by the U-shaped cradles.
 4. The weight rack of claim 3, wherein the protective guards comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, and foam.
 5. The weight rack of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat rear side is configured for mounting against a wall.
 6. The weight rack of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat rear side comprises a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a bolt to mount the elongated base to a wall.
 7. The weight rack of claim 6, further comprising a first flange extending outward from a left side of the bottom of the elongated base, and a second flange extending outward from a right side of the bottom of the elongated base.
 8. The weight rack of claim 7, wherein the first flange and the second flange each include a slot configured to receive a bolt to secure the elongated base to a floor.
 9. The weight rack of claim 7, wherein the first flange and the second flange each include a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a bolt to secure the elongated base to a floor.
 10. A weight rack, comprising: a metal body, comprising: an elongated base having a front side and a rear side; a first side protruding outward from a left end of the front side of the elongated base; a second side protruding outward from a right end of the front side of the elongated base; a plurality of aligning channels formed into the first side and the second side defining a plurality of U-shaped cradles; a top; and a bottom, wherein the rear side is configured for mounting against a wall.
 11. The weight rack of claim 10, wherein the plurality of U-shaped cradles is ordered from smallest at a position proximate the top of the elongated base to largest at a position proximate the bottom of the elongated base.
 12. The weight rack of claim 10, further comprising protective guards placed within channels defined by the U-shaped cradles.
 13. The weight rack of claim 12, wherein the protective guards comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, and foam.
 14. The weight rack of claim 10, further comprising a first flange extending outward from a bottom of the first side, and a second flange extending outward from a bottom of the second side.
 15. The weight rack of claim 14, wherein the first flange and the second flange are configured to receive a plurality of bolts to secure the body to a floor.
 16. The weight rack of claim 15, wherein the elongated base comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive bolts to secure the body to a wall.
 17. A wall-mounted weight rack, comprising: a metal body, comprising: an elongated base positioned against a wall and having a front side facing away from the wall; a first side protruding from a left end of the front side of the elongated base; a second side protruding from a right end of the front side of the elongated base; a plurality of aligning channels formed into the first side and the second side defining a plurality of U-shaped cradles; a top; and a bottom mounted to a floor.
 18. The wall-mounted weight rack of claim 17, further comprising a support mount attached to the wall, wherein the elongated base is mounted to the wall by the support mount.
 19. The wall-mounted weight rack of claim 17, wherein the elongated base comprises a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a bolt to mount the elongated base to the wall.
 20. The wall-mounted weight rack of claim 17, further comprising a first flange extending from the first side at the bottom of the body and a second flange extending from the second side at the bottom of the body, the first flange and the second flange receiving bolts to mount the bottom to the floor. 